[cofstl411]

I just drove 6 hours to pick up my used 75 Gallon tank and stand today. I read the threads on this board to see if my questions had been answered but I couldn't really find the answers or I am just too new to understand them. I want to set up my tank and get it running before I add anything to it other than water. The problem is that I don't know what type of filtration that I need. It came with a fluval 303 canister filter but I have no idea what to add to the compartments or if I should even keep the filter. Do I need an undergravel filter? There are no holes in my tank for any filters. I plan on having a FOWLR tank but hope to add coral when I get more experience. I want to purchase the equipment that will allow me to do this later. This is the only equipment that I have and I would like to know everything that I will need to purchase. I also saw a package for rock, sand, and a cleaning crew for setting up a tank at this web site: http://www.tbsaltwater.com/package.html . Is it realistic that a beginner such as myself could pull this off and will it work? Any feedback would be appreciated since I need to get my christmas list out soon.

[Samper]

Originally Posted by cofstl411

The problem is that I don't know what type of filtration that I need.

If you plan on keeping a fish only system like you stated you don't need all the high tech gadgets that the guys use to keep corals. Since you are looking forward to possibly keeping corals I personally feel that a berlin style system is the way to go. The berlin method utilizes biological and mechanical filtration. You can go with a deep sand bed and live rock with the addition of a small carbon filter and a good protein skimmer. For beginner corals lps and softies this will work fine. The more demanding corals SPS require more equipment to meet their needs but really that gets out of the filtration department.
Not knowing your budget I don't know what to recommend to you but here is a short list to get you going. Not all of this is mandatory especially the equipment but the successful guys use most of the following one way or another.

1. Good lighting, what type depends on what you want to keep. A fish only sytem can use any lighting you want to use. Corals require different lighting depending on what you plan to keep.

2. Protein skimmer

3. Sump

4. Return pump and plumbing for sump.

5. Overflows of some sort for your tank if you plan to use a sump.

6. Calcium and Kalk reactors

7. Heaters and possibly a chiller depending on where you live.

8. Test kits. Salifert and Lamotte make the good ones.

9. Salt mix.

10. Some sort of refugium that utilizes algaes for nutrient export.

11. Live Rock for biological filtration, and if you want a sand bed you will need the right sand. Search Oolitic and southdown on this forum to learn more about this.

12. Possibly a few extra powerheads for circulation.

13. Not a must but a good book.
The Consciencious Marine Aquarist by Robert M. Fenner

14. A turkey baster ...............seriously you will need one.

Originally Posted by cofstl411

It came with a fluval 303 canister filter but I have no idea what to add to the compartments or if I should even keep the filter.

I have no experience with these filters so maybe someone else can chime in on the subject.

Originally Posted by cofstl411

Do I need an undergravel filter?

The undergravel filters are outdated and only lead to problems down the road due to the fact that they collect all the junk underneath them and you have no way of getting it out. Eventually you will have nitrate and algae problems.

Originally Posted by cofstl411

I also saw a package for rock, sand, and a cleaning crew for setting up a tank at this web site: http://www.tbsaltwater.com/package.html . Is it realistic that a beginner such as myself could pull this off and will it work? Any feedback would be appreciated since I need to get my christmas list out soon.

I can't comment on the link because I have never done business with them but I think they are a sponsor here and I don't think they would be if they were a bad business. There are always slightly cheaper ways of doing things such as making your own live rock, buying sand and seeding it etc but it all depends on your budget. If my budget allowed I'd spend millions of dollars on this hobby and would only purchase top of the line everything for my system. Unfortunately we live in the real world and can't always have exactly what we want. I can promise you that this hobby is very rewarding provided that you do your research. This forum is a good place and anyone here will help you to the best of their knowledge. WELCOME TO REEFLAND and I hope this gets you started.

[cofstl411]

I live in Ohio and like everyone else I am on a budget but the good thing is that I can wait until I get all of the equipment that I need before I put water in my tank. I would rather pay a little more before I get the aquarium going than have to rush out and replace a piece of equipment that is insufficient and causing my fish to die. I must be on the right path though because I already have a turkey baster. I will even get some more use out of it in a few weeks before it becomes a piece of aqaurium equipment. I am going to purchase the book that you recommended and I was wondering if it has any diagrams of tank setups? If not, could you recommend any that would show a setup with all of the equipment that you mentioned and how to set them up together? Thanks again for your reply.

[Samper]

The first 165 pages or so discuss tanks, equipment, setting up, water params etc. Then it discusses fish for the aquarium, then invertebrates. Very good book.

[cofstl411]

I should be receiving my book any day now. In the mean time I was going to put a protein skimmer on my christmas list. I was wondering if a Red Sea Berlin Classic and Maxi-Jet 900(230gph) pump would be good for my 75 gallon tank or if I should look for something else. It is on ebay for about $170. Is there a better one in that price range or should I consider buying a better one altogether?